Leverkusen made sure of the three points against strugglers Mainz when Brazilian left back Wendell converted a 68th-minute penalty, after Mainz defender Giulio Donati brought down striker Lucas Alario.

The win sees Leverkusen climb to second, 16 points behind runaway league leaders Bayern Munich, who thrashed Hoffenheim 5-2 at home on Saturday.

The Bundesliga’s top-scorer Robert Lewandowski scored for the 18th time in the league this season as Bayern fought back from two goals down in style.

VfB Stuttgart sacked coach Hannes Wolf on Sunday, after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by third-placed Schalke saw them slip to 15th in the table.

Leverkusen are above Schalke on goal difference, with Eintracht Frankfurt a point behind in fourth.

Borussia Dortmund are sixth after needing a 93rd-minute equaliser by left back Jeremy Toljan to salvage a 2-2 draw with Freiburg.

Arsenal target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced a poor display, and was whistled on his return after being dropped for the previous two games.

Dortmund were whistled by their own fans, and Stoeger admitted he was also unimpressed with what he saw.